Are we meeting women's family planning rights and needs? Perceptions of the Title X Family Planning Program from key stakeholders in Florida

Introduction: Title X, enacted in 1970, provides funds for voluntary and confidential family planning and related preventive services to all individuals regardless of age or ability to pay.

Purpose: To explore a) key stakeholders' perceptions of Title X regarding its values, b) whether it makes women vulnerable/dependent on the state (stake-market control) and c) whether it meets the needs of all women (multiple identities).

Methods: A semi-structured interview guide based on Title X's legislative history, McPhail's Feminist Policy Analysis Framework and the literature facilitated the conduction of six oral histories with key stakeholders in Florida. Oral histories were audio-recorded and analyzed in NVivo 8 using open, axial and selective coding.

Results: Participants believed that Title X delivers essential health services, provides low-income women with choices regarding their fertility, “empowers” and “frees” women from traditional roles, promotes proper birth spacing, and decreases unintended pregnancies and STIs. Participants expressed that the government has the responsibility to provide, but not mandate, services to all individuals as reproductive health care is a basic human right. However, because of individual's multiple identities (race/ethnicity/national origin/sexual identity/class/religion/culture, etc.) and lack of resources (i.e., funding), participants expressed that all needs/rights are not being met.

Conclusion: Title X serves as a safety net provider and is responsible for several significant public health achievements. However, political, financial and social challenges hinder its ability in providing services to all in need. Title X is an important social justice program in women's overall right to health and necessitates a newfound political will.